Response to HEPI report on student number controls

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group of Universities, said:

"This report is right to highlight the uncertainty behind the Government’s plans to increase undergraduate student numbers in England. If the Government now no longer intends to use proceeds from the sale of the student loan book to fund additional student numbers in England, then it should abandon this idea. We would be extremely concerned if the substantial funds required to pay for additional students were taken from the already very stretched budget for research and higher education. It would be very worrying if this policy leads to less funding per student. Good teaching requires proper levels of investment.”